Your all-new HEALTH RULES

They may seem small, but make these actions non-negotiable and they will have the power to make you feel healthier and happier

Smell your dental floss

'Sniff your floss after using it because usually it smells gross-that's the scent of bacteria having a party where your brush can't reach,' says James Goolnik, founder of Bow Lane Dental Group. 'It will encourage you to keep flossing every day. You need to brush for two minutes twice a day. 'Most people brush for 30 seconds - but that's not enough,' adds James.

Stand tall for good digestion

Better posture will work wonders for your figure. Constant hunching forces the lower back to curve excessively, and pushes the stomach outwards. 'An upright posture is also thought to aid digestion,' says physiotherapist Valentina Roffi. This is because slouching restricts the diaphragm, which helps to move food through the oesophagus. To elongate your spine, imagine a balloon on a string attached to the crown of your head that is gently lifting and lengthening your spine without forcing you into an unnatural position.

Tap for 60 seconds

It's been hailed as 'emotional first aid' - a way to combat stress, anxiety and fear by simply tapping on the body's acupressure points, such as at the beginning of the eyebrows (near the nose) or just under the eye, with two fingers. 'I'm a huge advocate of the tapping technique that dates back 5000 years,' says Chinese medicine practitioner Katie Brindle. When put to the test, tapping reduced anxiety by 40%, depression by 35%, pain by 57% and cravings by 74%, found a 2019 study*.

Let yourself daydream